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Sue Petersen Lubow to Step Down as Merchant Marine Athletic Director

Mar 06, 2014

Kings Point, NY – After 25 years of
service as the Athletic Director at the United States Merchant
Marine Academy Sue Petersen Lubow will be stepping down from her
current position, effective March 23. Petersen Lubow has been
at the Academy for 35 years, beginning her career as the head coach
of both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving
programs in 1979. She will remain at Kings Point as a tenured
full professor in the Physical Education department. Captain
Bill Fell will serve as the Interim Athletic Director as a
worldwide search is launched for Petersen Lubow’s
successor.

“I’ve been athletic director for 25 years and
I feel that it’s time to step down and allow someone else to
take over the program, hopefully a program that I have set on the
right course,” said Petersen Lubow. “I feel this
is the proper time, both personally and professionally, to turn the
reigns over to someone else.”

Petersen Lubow’s appointment as Athletic Director marked
the first time that a female held that position at any of the
United States federal service academies. She has served on a
number of committees in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference
(ECAC), a regional conference comprised of 320 Division I, II, and
III institutions. Petersen Lubow was appointed as an Executive
Board member, the Chair of the Marketing Committee, the Chair of
the Swimming and Diving Committee, the Chair of the Finance
Committee, and the Chairperson of the ECAC Division III Football
Committee, a position also never before held by a woman. In the
fall of 1998, Petersen Lubow was honored by the ECAC as the 1998
Jostens Female Administrator of the Year. She is also the
most recent recipient of the ECAC’s Katherine Ley Award for
outstanding leadership, creation of programs and opportunities, and
for being a great role model for women coaches and
administrators.

“To follow an icon like Sue is humbling,” said
Fell. “I hope I can continue to build on her
accomplishments as the USMMA Interim Athletic Director and
successfully lead the department as Sue has for the past 25
years.”

Petersen Lubow, an honorary alumna of the USMMA Alumni
Association and Foundation, graduated from Springfield College in
1975. She went on to earn her Master's Degree in Health
Education from Hofstra University in 1979. Prior to coaching,
Petersen Lubow was a national competitor in AAU age group
swimming. She was also an All-American in the 200 individual
medley as well as the medley relay (1971-72) at Springfield
College, where she also served as the team captain. Petersen Lubow
was inducted into Springfield College's Athletic Hall of Fame in
1991 and the New York Metropolitan Swimming Hall of Fame in
2009.

Petersen Lubow was the first female to be the head coach of a
varsity men's team at any service academy when she was appointed to
her position at Kings Point in 1979. During her time at the
helm of the men’s and women’s swimming and diving
teams, the two programs combined for a 148-67 record over 11 years.
Petersen Lubow coached 48 All-America male and female swimmers and
divers, including both a men's and women's NCAA Division III
individual National Champion.

“Sue is the one most responsible for the transformation of
the Physical Education and Athletic Department over the
years,” said Associate Athletic Director and men’s
soccer coach Michael Smolens. “She has always worked
tirelessly to help every aspect in our department improve, while
still keeping the division III philosophy and the goals of USMMA in
the forefront. As teachers, coaches and Midshipmen, we
have been fortunate to have Sue as our strong leader for so many
years. She has certainly made a difference and helped make life
better at Kings Point for thousands of people.”

Throughout her career, Petersen Lubow has been very involved
with both USA Swimming and NCAA Swimming and Diving. She served as
the Secretary and Rules Editor for the NCAA Division I, II and III
Swimming and Diving Committee. Petersen Lubow also acted as the
Head Manager for the 1998 World Swimming Championships, travelling
with the USA National Team to Perth, Australia in January, 1998. In
October, 2004, she was tabbed as the head manager for the USA Short
Course World Swim Team that hosted the World Championships for the
first time in history. Petersen Lubow devoted the summers of
1993-95 to the USA National Swim program, serving as Head and
Assistant Manager.

“I’m looking forward to going back to
teaching,” said Petersen Lubow. “Those are my
roots and that’s where I started. I have a 12-year old
daughter who is very involved in school, sports, and music, which
also requires a great deal of my time. Time that I am excited
to spend with her.”